12.11.2008

Amare Explains the Trade: How Do You Beat Boston?

The Suns sent guards Raja Bell and Sean Singletary along with forward/center Boris Diaw to the Charlotte Bobcats in exchange for high-scoring shooting guard Jason Richardson, forward Jared Dudley and a 2010 second round draft pick.

While not as transparent a reaction to the Lakers acquisition of Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies as their deal for Shaquille O'Neal last season, it was a reaction nonetheless.

The Lakers are the measuring stick for everybody else in the conference. If you can't beat them now, you better figure out how.

Suns center Amare Stoudemire set the bar even higher.

"The Lakers are a strong team, but the Celtics won the title last year so they're the team to beat," Stoudemire said. "The lakers are good, they're playing well but the question is how do you beat Boston? I'm pretty sure the Lakers are thinking the same thing: 'How do we beat Boston?"'